Inking mechanism for printing machines



Jan. 20, 1953 F. SPENCE INKING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING MACHINES 1lSheets-Sheet l Filed March 2l, 1947 Jan. 20, 1953 F. SPENCE 2625,879

INKING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING MACHINES Filed March 21, 1947 11sheets-sheet 2 Jan- 20, 1953 F. SPENCE 2,625,79

INKING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING MAcmNEs Filed March 21, 1947 Y 11sheets-sheet s Ian. 20, 1953 F. sPENcE 2,625,879

INKING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING MACHINES F11ed March 21, 1947 11sheets-sheet 4 Jan. 20, 1953 F. SPENCE 2,625,879

INKING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING MACHINES Filed March 2l, 1947 11Sheets-Sheet 5 Jan. 20, 1953 F. sPENcE INKING MEcHANIsM Fon PRINTINGMACHINES 11 Sheets-Sheetv Filed. March 21, 1947 Jan. 20, 1953 F. SPENCEINKING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING MACHINES Filed March 21, 1947 11Sheets-Sheet '7 Jan. 20, 1953 F. sPENcE 2,625,879

INKING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING MACHINES Filed March 2l, 1947 I1Sheets-Sheet 8 0J 7 on, 5 2 6, 2

F. SPENCE INKING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING MACHINES Jan. zo, 1953 FiledMarch 21, 1947 l1 Sheets-Sheet 9 F. SPENCE INKING MEcHANsM FOR PRINTING'MACHINES Jan. 20, 1953 l1 Sheets-Sheet l@ Filed March 2l 1947 C @E QQ QV7u 8, 5 2 6 2 Jan. 20, 1953 F. sPENcE INKING MECHANISM FOR PRINTINGMACHINES 11 Sheets-Sheet ll Filed March 21, 1947 Patented Jan. 20, #1953f :STATES PATENT OFF ICE l"2,625,879 IKIG vvinizi;ni'NIsM`Fois rRINTG"MACHINES -red l Spence, HSaic, giEngland, assigner 'to Linotypeand-fMacliinery L mited, London, England', a

company of Great Britain sfplicfatinnirciifel, 1947,'s'n1 No. 136;246

Inorearsritain March ze, 194e "s crains. (ci. ici-:stm

.This invention relates to inking mechanism Vfor printing machineswherein a Lprinting press bed rcarrying `a printing'fsur-face orIforxnefis reiprocated-relati-vely to 'forme -inning krollers and animpression cylinder.

In such- .machines the vforme inking' rollers, which receive ink vfroman --ink supply source through -aftrain of rollers, areadapted-'eithento remain inposition forcontacting with the forme onA thereciprocating -bed-during both strokes vof thevbed landse as-torotate inopposite directions in {accordance w-it-hwthe direction ci kmovement oipthe reciprocating r-bed, or are arranged to be lifted eutgof positionfor contacting with 'the formeduring one stroke of the bed and to berotated continuously-in one direction.

Itis the xprincipa-Lobject of the present invern-'- tion ytoprovideanzfinking'mechanism wherein an improved supply fof inkis-t-'ransmitted fte the forme-hiking rollers.

`.According to the-invention 'an inkin'g .mechafor 'a--printing machineAleaving 'a reciprocating forme=carrying fbed `conriprises 'an 'inksimplyvsourc'e;v -a :plurality of forme inkingrollers andindependenttra-insof rollers for transmit'- ting-ink from :theinkvlsu-pply rsource to' each r forme-hiking roller. Means may beprovided for intermittently connecting each vtrainnf rollers tothe inksupply source.

Preferably the ink supply -source includes lan ink` .drum rotatingcontinuously in lone direction and each train ofrol'lers includes atransfer roller which makes controlled intermittent vcontact with theink drum. Each train v'of rollers may alsov include a vibra-tor rollerlocated loetvveen and in Contact With a forme-inning 'roller 'on the onehand and thetransfer roller on the other hand. .The vibrator. roller.may be driven-and during. opera-tion of.' the machine, may remain invcontact with and' driving connection with its associated' fr'i'ne-inkingroller and ytransferjroller. The Vtransfer 'roller vmay move into andout of contact with the ink drun While remaining in contact with thevibrator roller.

I'hemovement of a transfer roller into and foutf contact 'with' the inkdrinn is preferably vcontrolled sol as to be in timed reisden to 'themovement ofthe reciprocating bed and so as to nmitthe rimanenti` ContactBetween theme drum and transfer 'ronertcths time eqre'd to transfersufficient inkfor one ink-111g of the forme The transfe'ir""r'lle`prf""abl`y contacts with thejink drum when tliejpeiiphl speeds of theinlydrumjand transfe'roller ieedial.

ink fountain roller, an Zink drum rotating com ti-nuously in Aonedirection, and. 'a driven' "ductor roller which cirlifaets alternately"Withi the "inl: fountain roller and the iiil: drum. TheV doctor rollerpreferably Vcontacts with 'a driven 'starter roller 'at an`ir'iter'mediate stage of v`its passage from the ink fountainiol'ler tothe ink drum.

Means may @be provided for continuously ro"- tating a forme-inkingroller at uniform speed, and, during the printing stroke of theIreciproeating bed, moving 'such `roller into "and 'outf'o position forYcontacting with the 'forme The duration 4of contact ofthe movableforrnie-iriling roller with the forme may ,'floev limited to the'periodwhen the bed is 'travelling at 'uniform speed. The inking mechanism maybe provided with means for moving the inkA driim and -a train 'ofrollers to an inoperative position to "enaliie 'the inking rollers to beremoved cir"cleaned.

Inl order that 'the invention may Aloe' cle y understood -and readilycarried 'into 'efect,' 'tlie same Will 'now `be described more fullyWithrefe'rence to the accompanying drawings in jtif'l'iichz Figure 1 isa side elevation zof the general rangement of 'an inking mechanism,'certain"details beingomt'ted orclarity; Figure 2 is an venlarged" sideelev" 'ion 'ofjpart of the 'inking mechanism shivn'i guile A1'; Figure 3is a vertical sectional v ofwo'ne sfide of the inking mechanism taken-onthe line III- III of Figure y2; y Figure 41S a vertical isctiealvien-offene .e of the inking mechanism taken on the une inv-LIV ofFigure 2; Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view tak'n'n the line Vf-V ofFigure 2;

Figure 6 is an enlarged side the ink fountain; Figure 7fis plan ViewA ofthe'inech operating th'e ink fountain rller; FigureI 8 is a ve'rt ic':alv 'sectional View taken on the line VIIIL-'VIIl of Figure 7;

@levenden View @i for Figure 9 is a vertical sectinai view of the/maincam shaft;

Figure 10 is a side view associated mechanisrn;

Figure 11 is an enlarged side viewpartly'in section, of the mountingamassociated melilla-' 'mism for the linkin? .1911??55. -A

Figure ,121 plan vieWVg-of'the formeroller frames and auxiliaryformejrollerj frames Yin WhCh certain, 0f .the inkinsrolle'r's aremonte: Figure '13isaside View showing the auxiliary tf neuter@ rater mi-form roller frames in raised position;

Figure 14 is a side view of the mounting and associated mechanism forthe inking rollers;

Figure is a side view of the driving mecha nism for the inking rollers;

Figure 16 is a plan view of the mechanism shown in Figure 15; and

Figure 17 is an enlarged View of the gearing for driving the secondvibrator roller.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, the forme I on thereciprocating bed 2 is inked by two forme-inking rollers F1, F2, one ofwhich (F1) (hereinafter called the first forme roller) remains inposition for contacting with the forme I and so rotates in oppositedirections in accordance with the direction of movement of thereciprocating bed 2, and the other of which (F2) (hereinafter called thesecond forme roller) is lifted out of position for contacting with theforme I on the return stroke of the reciprocating bed 2 and is rotatedcontinuously in one direction. Each forme roller F1 or F2 is suppliedwith ink through a separate train of rollers (a or b) from an ink drum Drotating continuously in one direction. Each train of rollers a or bcomprises a transfer roller T1 or T2 which makes intermittent contactwith the ink drum D, and a vibrator roller V1 or V2 interposed betweenthe transfer roller T1 or T2 and the forme roller F1 or FZ. EachVibrator roller V1' or V2 is in permanent contact with its associatedtransfer roller T1 or T2 on the one hand and the forme roller F1 or F'2on the other hand while the inking mechanism is in normal runningrelation to the machine. The transfer and vibrator rollers associatedwith the first forme roller are hereinafter referred to as the rsttransfer roller and first vibrator roller, and the transfer and vibratorrollers associated with the second forme roller are hereinafter referredto as the second transfer roller and second vibrator roller.

The ink drum D is intermittently supplied with ink by a ductor roller dwhich contacts alternately with the roller 3 of an ink fountain e andthe ink drum D. The ink fountain is carried by a fountain frame 5adjustably clamped to forme roller frames 6 which, in a mannerhereinafter more fully described, support certain of the inking rollers.A ne adjustment of the fountain frame 5 relatively to the forme rollerframes S may be effected by the manipulation of bolts l (see Figures 6,7 and 8) carried by plates 8 on the forme roller frames 6 and screwedinto the fountain frame 5. A doctor blade 9 carried by a holder Ico-operates with the fountain roller 3 and is provided with adjustingscrews I I for varying the gap between the fountain roller 3 and theblade 9.

The shaft I2 of the fountain roller 3 is carried by roller bearings inthe fountain frame 5 and is Vintermittently rotated by the. engagementof an oscillating pawl I3 with a ratchet wheel Ifi keyed to the shaftI2. The pawl I3 is pivoted to one arm I5 of a bell-crank lever looselymounted on the shaft I2, the other arm I 6 of the bellcrank lever beingconnected by a link I'I to the stud IS (see Figures 1 and 9) of a crankarm It on the main cam shaft 2D of the machine. The pawl I3 is normallyheld in engagement with the ratchet wheel I4 by means-of a spring 2|which engages a pin 22 on the pawl I3. When it is de sired to rotate thefountain roller 3 by hand, the pawl I3 may be held out of engagementwith the ratchet wheel I 4 by means of a hook 23 in the spring 2|. Forrotating the fountain roller 3 by hand, a detachable handle (not shown)is ap1 plied to the shaft I 2 of the fountain roller 3.

The ink feed, that is the amount of rotation imparted to the fountainroller 3, is adjusted by varying the number of teeth of the ratchetwheel I which are engaged by the pawl I3 at each working stroke thereof.For this purpose, an adjustable set wheel 24 is provided with a camportion 25 which raises the pawl I3 out of engagementvwith' the ratchetwheel I4. on the idle stroke of the arm I5 at a position determined bythe angular position of the set wheel 24. The set wheel 24 is retainedin position by a spring 2E engaging one or another of a number ofnotches 21 in the periphery of the set wheel.

The ductor roller d making alternate contact with the ink drum D and inkfountain roller 3 is mounted on a shaft 28 carried by bearings 29 (seeFigure 10) adjustably clamped to levers 3i! which are loosely mounted ona shaft 3I in the forme roller frames 6. The levers 3D are restrainedfrom lateral movement by collars 32 on the shaft 3i. The levers 3S areconnected by links 33 to arms 35i (see Figures 1 and 9) secured to ashaft 35 which is rocked in its bearings in the machine frame by a lever36 secured to the shaft 35 and.

having a roller 31 actuated by a cam 38 on the main cam shaft 22, 'I'hepressure of the ductorl roller d against the ink drum D when it contactstherewith is limited by an adjustable spring connection Si), between thelinks 33 and arms 34.

The ink drum D is mounted on a shaft 4E) carried in bearings 4I (seeFigure 2) on arms i2 secured to a shaft i3 journalled in the formeroller frames 6. Sockets 4 adjustably carried in the arms 42 providebearings for the shaft d5 of a rider roller t6 which makes contact withthe upper surface of the ink drum D. One of the arms 42 is provided witha handle 41 by means of which the drum D can be moved from its operativeposition to an inoperative position (indicated by dot-and-dash lines inFigure 2) in which it may be retained by the engagement of a hook 48with a stud 49 on one of the arms 42.

The shaft f1 of the nrst forme roller F1 (which, as mentioned above,remains in position for contacting with the forme I) is carried at eachside of the machine in a socket 50 (see Figure 11) adjustably mounted bymeans of a screw 5I and nut 52 in a block 53 secured to the forme rollerframes 6. Y

The shaft v1 of the rst vibrator roller V1 (see Figures 2, 11, 12 and13) is supported at one end by a stud 5d on a bracket 55 secured to anauxiliary forme roller frame 55 mounted on a shaft 57 journalled in theforme roller frames ii. At its other end, the first vibrator roller V1is supported in a half bearing 58 formed in a forme roller frame 6, thehalf bearing 58 being capped by a similar half bearing 59 in anotherauxiliary forme roller frame 56 mounted on shaft 51.

The shaft t1 of the first transfer roller T1 (see Figure 11) is carriedinsockets B9 (one at each side of the machine) which (as hereinaftermore fully described) slide in blocks 5I clamped to the forme rollerframes 6.

The shaft f2 of the second forme roller F2 (see Figures 11 and 14) iscarried in sockets 62 which (as hereinafter more fully described) areslidably mounted in blocks 63 adjustably clamped to the forme rollerframes s. To facilitate manipulation of the second forme roller F2, theshaft v2 of the second vibrator roller V2 is supported by half bearings6d which are pivoted at S5 tothe forme roller frames 6 (see Figure 13).

The shaft t2 of the .second transfer roller T2 is supported byadjustable spring-controlled sockets 66 (see Figures 11 and 13) carriedby the auxiliary forme roller frames 56. Also carried by the auxiliaryforme roller frames 55 are operating pins B1 and levers 68 forcontrolling the contact of the second transfer roller I12 with the inkdrum D and a spring stud 69 for breaking the contact of the firsttransfer roller T1 with the ink drum D.

During normal operation of the inking mechanism, the auxiliary formeroller frames 58 are clamped to the forme roller frames I5 by hooks 19(see Figures 11 and 13) on the auxiliary forme roller frames 56 engagingprojections 1| on the forme roller frames 6. The hooks 1B are secured toa shaft 12 (see Figure 12) journalled inthe auxiliary forme rollerframes 56, and such shaft 12 is provided with a lever 13 by which it canbe rotated, a spring plunger 1'4 being provided in the lever 13 toengage a recess in an auxiliary forme roller frame 56 and lock 'thelever 13 in position. To remove the inking rollers, the drum D is raisedto the inoperative position indicated by dot-and-dash lines in Figure 2.The vspring plunger 14 is then withdrawn and the lever 13 is raised torotate the shaft 12 and release the hooks 1I] from the projections 1I onthe forme roller vframes 56. A handle 15 on the lever 13 is then liftedto rotate the shaft E1 on which the auxiliary forme roller frames aremounted and raise the auxiliary forme roller frames Sluntil the springplunger 14 engages a catch-plate 15 (as shown in Figure 13) and thelever 13 acts as a link to hold the auxiliary forme roller frames 5s inthe raised position. During the raising of the auxiliary forme rollerframes 56, the vibrator rollers V1 and V2 are lifted out of the bearings58 and 64 in the forme roller frames 6 by means of hooks 11 and 18carried by the auxiliary forme roller frames 5t. The hooks 11 arecarried by a plate 11a which is attached by screws 11b to the auxiliaryforme roller frames 56. A screw 11b may be removed to allow a hook 11 toswing and free the shaft 121 from the half bearing 5S when it is desiredto remove the vibrator roller V1 for cleaning purposes.

In normal running position, the transfer rollers T1 and T2 arerespectively held out of contact with the ink drum D by spring studs 69and springs 19 in the auxiliary forme roller frames 56 (see Figure 11)and are brought into contact with the ink drum D at an appropriate pointin the cycle by means of operating arms Se and Si controlled by a cam 82(see Figures 1 and 9) on the cam shaft 2i! of the machine. Said cam 82engages a roller 83 on a lever S4 secured to a shaft 85 journalled inthe machine base, the roller 83 being vheld against cam 82 by a spring86. Arms 81 secured to the shaft 85 are connected by links 83 to pivotedvlevers 89 carrying lifters SI1 (see Figure 1i) which contact with theoperating 'arms 8E and SI pivoted at QI and S2 to the forme rollerframes E. The operating arms 8i] and 8| are respectively furnished withadjusting screws t3 and Se and lock nuts 95 and 96. In the case of thefirst transfer roller T1, screws s3 contact with the lower ends of theslidable sockets 63 in which the first transfer roller T1 is mounted. Inthe case of the `second transfer roller T2,.screws SII Contact with pushNrods S1 which are slidably mounted in blocks 93 secured to theiormetroller frames 5. The upper ends of push rods 91 engage theoperating pins 61 bearing against levers $3 connected to thelower endsof the slidable sockets 66. As the cam roller 83 follows the' 6 contourof the cam 8.2 the .shaft is turned and the transfer rollers T1 and T2make and break. contact with the ink drum Dl by the differential actionof the spring 86 and the springpressed studs 69 and springs 19.

Plates (not shown) secured to the base of the forme roller frames 6cover tommy holes 93a and 94a in in the heads of the adjusting screws B3and IM to prevent any adjustment thereof except when the operating arms8S, III, are in the raised position in which the transfer rollers T1 and4T2 contact with the ink drum D.

To prevent an accumulation of ink on the forme rollers F1 and F1- whenthe machine is running with the impression cylinder I (see Figure 1,)tripped out of printing position, a bar 99 on the shaft 85 is arrangedto engage a cam I on the eccentric shaft IUI which, through rod IIIZ.,is connected to eccentric bearings |03 in which the shaft of impressioncylinder I is mounted. When the cam IDI) and bearings I 03 are turned totrip the impression cylinder I, the cam IBB engages the bar 99 andprevents rotation of the shaft 85 and contact of the transfer rollers T1and T2 with the ink drum D is prevented. The bar 99 can be flexedsideways to disengage the cam I im when it is desired to run the inkingmechanism with the impression cylinder I tripped.

Rotation of the ink drum D in one direction is effected by a gear wheelIM (see Figure 2) keyed to the shaft which (through mechanism not hereindescribed) effects reciprocationof the printing press bed 2, the gearWheel IM driving the ink drum D through a gear train carried by theformeroller frames 6. Such gear train (see Figures 2, 5, l5 and 16)comprises gears IE5, IBS, Il1, H38, which latter meshes with a gear |09on shaft so of the ink drum D.

The second vibrator roller V2 is also driven from gear IM through thegears |05, IGS, III1, the gear m1 meshing with a gear I9a (see Figure 3)which in turn meshes with a gear Illl on the shaft 112 of the secondvibrator rollerV'. The second vibrator roller V2 frictionally drives thesecond transfer roller T2 and second forme roller F2 with which rollersit is in permanent contact.

The first vibrator roller V1 derives lits rotation from a toothed rackII I (see Figures 2, 5, 15 and 16) attached to the printing press bed 2and through gears H2, H3, I I4, the gear Ile meshing with afgear H5 onthe shaft v1 of the first vibrator roller V1. The iirst vibrator rollerV1 r frictionally drives the first transfer roller T1 and first formeroller F1 with which rollers it is in permanent contact.

The gears ,I and Ii' are co-axially butindependently mounted on the`stud IIS, and the gears I'I, IIfLare co-axially but independentlymounted on the stud II1. The gears IBS and III1 rotate uniformly, butthe gears IIS and Ils reverse in direction of rotation at each stroke ofthe printing press bede. The gear I I4 through an idler gear IIS mountedon a stud IIS drives the gear I2@ which is loosely mounted on shaft 51(see Figure e). The gear IZII is integral with a gear IZI which lattermeshes with a gear |22 on the shaft IES Vof the starterroller 12e. As

.indica-ated; in Figures zand 10, the ductor roller d aeacgsvc1,927,759, In thesaid specification, the ductor roller contactsalternately with an intermittently rotating ink fountain roller and thefirst distributor roller of a set of ink distributor rollers, and saidductor roller during its movement towards the said first distributorroller is caused by the driving or starter roller to rotate at a surfacespeed which corresponds to the surface speed of said first distributorroller. As hereinbefore described, according to the present invention,the ductor roller d is mounted for movement alternately into directcontact with the ink fountain roller 3 and into direct contact with theinking drum D, and moreover the starter roller |24, which is arrangedfor direct contact with the ductor roller during its passage from theink fountain roller to the inking drum, is adapted by such contact todrive the ductor roller at the same surface speed as the inking drum atthe time of contact therewith.

The vibrator rollers V1 and V2 and ink drum D are given a periodic axialreciprocation. The first vibrator roller Vl is reciprocated by acamactuated lever (see Figures 1, 5 and 9) which is pivoted on a stud|26 fixed in a bracket |21 secured to the machine base, the upper end ofthe lever |25 being provided with a roller |28 engaging a grooved collar|29 on the end of the shaft v1, and the lower end of the lever |25 beingprovided with a roller |30 engaging a grooved cam |3| on the cam shaft2G. The lever |25 makes one complete movement backwardsand forwards ateach revolution of the cam shaft 29. The second vibrator roller V2 isreciprocated by a lever |32 (see Figures 1, 2, 14 and 17) having aroller |33 engaging a grooved collar |34 on the end of the shaft v2, thelever |32 being mounted on a vertical shaft |35 supported in bearings|36, |31, secured respectively to the machine base and a forme rollerframe 6. An arm |33 secured to the lower end of the vertical shaft |35is provided with a roller |39 engaging a grooved cam |49 carried on astud |4| fixedv to the machine base, the cam being integral with a gear|42 which is driven by gears |43, |44, |45 (being integral with |44) and|46 from the cam shaft 20 at a speed of rotation which is two-fifthsthat of the cam shaft. The lever |32 is formed with an extension |41provided with a roller |48 (see also Figure 5) which engages a groovedcollar |49 on the shaft 49 of the ink drum D to impart a simultaneousreciprocation of greater amplitude and contrary sense to the ink drum DThe second forme roller F2 (which is lifted out of position forcontacting with the forme on the return stroke ofthe printing press bed2) rotates with uniform angular velocity and for that reason it isallowed to contact with the forme I only when'the printing press bed 2is travelling at uniform speed during the printing stroke.

One of the blocks 63 (see Figures 1, 2, 11 and 14) in which the sockets62v carrying the shaft .f2 of the second forme roller F2 are slidablymounted has pivoted thereon an arm |59 furnished with an adjusting screw|5| and locknut |52. Such adjusting screw |5| is adapted to slide theforme roller socket B2 in the block 63 against the action of a spring|53 and by these means the contact between the forme roller F2 and theforme may be adjusted. On the underside of the pivoted arm |50 is aprojecting lug |54 resting on the base of the forme roller frame 6 andon the underside of the arm |5|) is a facing |55 with which a lifter |56contacts. The lifter |55 is pivotally connected to a lever |51 which ispivoted on a stud |58 secured in the machine base. The lever |51 isconnected by a link |59 to an arm |39 secured to the rocking shaft 35 bywhich the ductor roller d is oscillated in the manner already described.Thus, when the ductor roller d is in contact with the ink fountainroller 3, the second forme roller F2 is lifted out of position forcontacting with the forme and the printing press bed 2 is on the returnstroke. The above mechanism is duplicated on the other side of themachine and both ends of the forme roller F2 are lifted simultaneously.

When the second forme roller F2 is lifted out of position for contactingwith the forme the second vibrator roller V2, being carried in xedbearings 64, does not move. At this stage, the second transfer roller T2is out of contact with the ink drum D but still in contact with thesecond vibrator roller V2. The movement of the second forme roller F2and the second transfer roller T2 is comparatively small and takes placealong a line at right angles to a line joining the centre of therespective roller to the centre of the second vibrator roller V2. Thus,the effect of such movement is virtually the same as though the secondforme roller F2Y and second transfer roller T2 rolled around thecircumference of the second vibrator roller V2 and driving contactbetween the rollers is unaffected.

The quantity of ink supplied to the forme rollers F1 and F2 at eachprinting operation is dependent partly upon theA thickness of the filmof ink on the ink fountain roller 3 (determined by the setting of theink fountain blade 9) and partly upon the angular advance of the inkfountain roller 3 (determined by the position of the set wheel 24) Thesupply of ink is automatically interrupted when the impression cylinderI is tripped in order to avoid congestion of ink on the rollers of theinking mechanism. For this purpose a rod |5| (see Figures 1, 2 and 8) isconnected at its upper end to the eccentric bearing |93 and at its lowerend to a bell-crank lever |62 adjustably connected to the horizontallink |83. The link |53 is adjustably connected to the bell-crank lever|54 which is connected to the downwardly extending part |55 of ahook-shaped camV |36. Rotation of the eccentric bearings |03 brings thecam |65 into engagement with a pin 61 on the pawl I3 which is thusraised out of engagement with the ratchetwheel I4.'

New ink from the ink fountain roller 3 undergoes preliminarydistribution between the starter roller |24 and the ductor roller dbefore being applied to the ink drum D.

With the maximum amount of ink feed about one quarter of the surface ofthe ductor roller d receives ink from the ink fountain roller 3,actuating cam 3B of the ductor roll moving means being so shaped thatsuch roll makes only one quarter of a revolution in contact with thefountain roller 3. By preliminary distribution with the starter roller|24 (which roller has a diameter half that of the ductor roller d)approximately half cf this ink is transferred to the opposite surface ofthe ductor roller d before the ductor roller d contacts with the inkdrum D. The ink is then applied to the surface of the ink drum D inareas of colour alternating with blank spaces of the same width, i. e.one quarter of the circumference cf the ductor roller d. The diameter ofthe ink drum D is not an exact multiple of the diameter of the ductorroller d so that after one complete revolution of the ink drum .D theareas of colour commence to overlap the blank` spaces and the point ofapplication ofthe ink travels progressively around the ink rdrum Dirisubsequent cycles of operation. The ductor rol-ler d remains incontact with the ink drum D for approximately one and one-thirdrevolutions of the drum D. The circumference of thev ink drum D may begreater than the length of the forme i on the printing press bed 2andthe amount of ink carried on the ink drum D is sufiicient for severalilnkings of the forme I.

The movement of the transfer rollers Tl and T2 is arranged so as to bein timed relationship with the movement of the printing press bed 2 andso as to cause the transfer rollers T1 and T2 to contact at theappropriate time with the continuously rotating ink drum D. Thus, themovement of the reversible first transfer roller T1 is controlled sothat the transfer roller T1 contacts with the ink drum D when theperipheral speeds of the ink drum D and transfer roller T1 are equal.

The duration of the contact between the transfer rollers Tl and T2 andthe ink drum D is limited to the time required to pick up enough inl:for one printing operation, and this contact is timed and arranged sothat new ink does not arrive at the bottom (or forme contactingposition) of the forme rollers F1 and F2 until the forme I has passedthat position. This allows the maximum possible time for the completemilling of the ink before its application to the forme i.

Having described my invention, I declare that what I claim and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

l. In inking mechanism for printing machines, the combination with aforme-carrying bed, fcrme-inlzing rollers relatively to which theforme-carrying bed is reciprocated, and an ink fountain roller fromwhich ink is transferred to the forme-inking rollers, of an ink drumcontinuously rotating in one direction, means for transferring ink fromthe fountain roller to the ink drum, transfer rollers for transferringink from the ink drum to the forme-inking rollers, means for rotatingthe transfer rollers, slidable sockets in which the transfer rollers aremounted, mechanism for moving the sockets to bring the transfer rollersinto and out of contact with the ink drum and a cam controlling saidmechanism so that the transfer rollers contact with the ink drum whenthe peripheral speeds are equal and the movement of the transfer rollersis timed and arranged so that new ink does not arrive at theforme-contacting part of the forme-inking rollers until the formecarried by the bed has passed the ink receiving position and furthertime is allowed for milling of the ink before its application to theforme.

2. A combination according to claim 1 in which each transfer roller islocated in a separate train of rollers comprising a driven vibratorroller and a forme-inking roller, each vibrator roller being inpermanent contact with its associated transfer roller on the one handand the forme roller on the other hand.

3. A combination according to claim l including a ductor roller,mechanism for moving the ductor roller alternately into contact with theink fountain roller and the ink drum and a driven starter roller withwhich the ductor roller contacts during its passage from the inkfountain roller to the ink drum and by which the ductor roller is drivenat the same surface spe'd asthe ink drum. Y

4. In inlring mechanism fori printing machines, the combination i with aforme-carrying bedr, forme-inkin'g rollers; relatively to which theforme-"carrying vbed is r'eciprocated, and aninkfountain roller fromwhich ink is transferred to the formeeinking rollers, of an ink drumcontinuously rotating in one direction, means' for transferring ink fromthe fountain roller to the ink drum, transfer rollers,y means for movingthe transfer rollersy intoj and out of contact 'with the inl: drum,rdriven vibrator rollers with which the transfer rollers and forme-inkingrollers contact, a pivotedv auxiliary frame in which one transferrollerV is mounted, half bearings in which the vibrator rollers aremounted and hooks carried by the auxiliary frame which on a pivotalmovement of said frame withdraw the vibrator rollers from the halfbearings to allow access to the inking rollers for cleaning andadjustment.

5. In inking mechanism for printing machines, the combination with aforme-carrying bed, forme-inking rollers relatively to which theforme-carrying bed is reciprocated and an ink fountain roller, of aninking drum continuously rotating in one direction from which ink fromthe fountain roller is transferred to the formeinlring rollers, a ductorroller mounted for movement alternately into direct contact with the inkfountain roller and into direct contact with the inking drum fortransferring ink from the fountain roller to the inking drum, mechanismfor effecting such movement of the ductor roller, and a driven starterroller arranged for direct contact with the ductor roller during itspassage from. the ink fountain roller to the inking drum and adapted bysuch contact to effect preliminary distribution of ink on the ductorroller during its passage from the fountain roller to the inliing drumand to drive the ductor roller at the same surface speed as the inkingdrum at the time of contact therewith.

6. The combination according to claim 5, wherein the ductor rollermoving mechanism includes means for causing said mechanism to maintainthe ductor roller for only part of one revolution in contact with thefountain roller so as to receive ink on only a portion of its surfacecircumferentially and wherein the 'diameter of the inlring drum, whilemuch greater than that of the ductor roller, is not an exact multiple ofthe diameter of the ductor roller, whereby the ink is applied to theinking drum during one revolution thereof in areas of colour alternatingwith blank spaces and after one revolution thereof in areas of -colourwhich commence to overlap the blank spaces, the point of application ofthe ink traveling progressively around the inlring drum duringsubsequent cycles of operation.

7. The combination according to claim 6, in which the control mechanismcontrols the ductor rollerI moving mechanism so that during contact ofthe ductor roller with the fountain roller inl: from the fountain rolleris received on about one quarter of the surface circumferentially of theductor roller and in which the starter roller has a diameter which ishalf that of the ductor roller, whereby due to the contact of thestarter roller with the ductor roller during the passage of the latterfrom the ink fountain roller to the inking drum ink is transferred bypreliminary distribution to the circumferentially opposite quartersurface of the ductor roller and thus applied to 11 the inking drum inareas of colour alternating with blank spaces of the same width.

8. The combination according to claim. 7, wherein the surface of theinking drum is of a size to carry sufficient ink for several printingoperations and including, as additional elements, transfenrollers forrtransferring ink from the inking drum to the forme-inking rollers, andmechanism for moving the transfer rollers into Number Re. 20,458 5641,915 1,093,521 1,926,145 1,927,759 2,414,818

and out of contact with the inking drum, said 10 mechanism being timedto maintain the transfer rollers in contact with the inking drum for aperiod sufficient only to enable the transfer rollers to pick up enoughink for one printing operation.

FRED SPENCE. v

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Schlesinger July 27, 1937Whitlock Jan. 23, 1900 Barber Apr. 14, 1914 Erickson et al Sept. 12,1933 Spence Sept. 19, 1933 Kunz Jan. 28, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS CountryDate Great Britain July 5, 1895 Germany Mar. 20, 1924 Great Britain Feb.8, 1932

